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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think it's unfair to the royal children

82 replies

Eviltheweevil · 07/06/2022 17:54

Seeing their little faces all over the media, especially louis who is being made the subject of thousands of memes and being shared by loads of businesses - all because he was acting like a 4 year old?

His parents choose to be in the public eye, the children didn't. Making them sit through hours of boredom with the country gawping at them and judging them for their behaviour.

I can't help but think they're being exploited, and people have lost sight of what's in the children's best interests. Especially large corporations using louis to hawk their products and raise their own profile. He's just a little boy. If he was any non royal child it wouldn't be acceptable. Haven't they learnt anything from harry and william being damaged by growing up in the public eye?

OP posts:
Mamamia7962 · 07/06/2022 17:58

Which large corporations are using Louis to sell their products?

Meraas · 07/06/2022 17:58

Yawn, yet another poor Louis thread. Ever thought about sparing a thought for the children in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine etc? Some of them could never even dream of being as privileged as poor little Louis. Hmm

TeenPlusCat · 07/06/2022 18:01

YABU. The jubilee was a 'one off' very special event. Generally the royal children have very little exposure, it is carefully controlled. Most of the photos of the children are taken by Kate herself rather than an external photographer as in the past.
Its a deal, they do a bit of exposure in return for privacy the rest of the time.

BattenburgDonkey · 07/06/2022 18:01

The kids aren’t seen in public all that often, it was a very rare occasion. And ultimately, they are not your children so it’s none of your business!

MintJulia · 07/06/2022 18:03

They will be endlessly in the public eye and won't have much privacy until they are adults and can choose to step back.

On the other hand they are born into huge financial privilege.

It just depends which you value most.

Original poster
Eviltheweevil · 07/06/2022 18:04

Mamamia7962 · 07/06/2022 17:58

Which large corporations are using Louis to sell their products?

The one that inspired the post was Aldi. I've seen a few others over the course of the day. Of course he's also all over social media and every news outlet.

To the others, sorry, i didn't realise it was ok to exploit children if their parents are rich. Noted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eviltheweevil · 07/06/2022 18:04

Meraas · 07/06/2022 17:58

Yawn, yet another poor Louis thread. Ever thought about sparing a thought for the children in Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine etc? Some of them could never even dream of being as privileged as poor little Louis. Hmm

You're welcome to go start a thread about those children if you want.

OP posts:
GreenWheat · 07/06/2022 18:07

His parents choose to be in the public eye, the children didn't.

Err, no they didn't. William was born a royal, just like them. He is fulfilling the duty thrust upon him, and they will probably do the same. Being a royal child is not the same as being any other child. They will have a different life to everyone else and need prepare for that from a young age. They can't just start doing it when they turn 18.

SummaLuvin · 07/06/2022 18:09

If he was any non royal child it wouldn't be acceptable.

disagree with this point, look at all the children whose faces and funny reactions have been turned into memes and gifs. Further than that influencer and blogging families who expose the everyday minutiae of their kids lives. I think it's awful, and agree with you that this exposure is ultimately damaging for children and they have no ability to consent knowingly at their young age, but this is not restricted to royalty.

welshpolarbear · 07/06/2022 18:12

Sorry op I don't think you'll get much backing with the "poor any royal child"

I'm sure a lot of people would swap a few photos for the enormous wealth and privilege their lives bring.

The children probably bring in more money to the royal family than anyone else (through tourism) so people want to see them.

It's only occasionally they're "put on show" and this was obviously a very special event.

toastofthetown · 07/06/2022 18:15

Lots of children are in the public eye and/or have memes made of them. Child actors, family vlogger children, random kids’ pictures uploaded to Reddit, child models… It’s hardly exclusive to the royals.

I’m not a fan of sharing children in the public eye, but that’s part of having a monarchy. I know it’s not a race to the bottom, but I feel more strongly about children from influencer/vlogging families than the royal children though. Generally the royal children only have a few pictures per year released.

lollipoprainbow · 07/06/2022 18:17

They were wheeled out for a couple of events over the jubilee weekend the like of which we won't see again for a very very long time, I'm sure they can cope with that before they go back to their very lovely lives.

Topgub · 07/06/2022 18:17

I dont feel any sympathy for them

Their families could easily choose a different life

But I think they genuinely think they deserve all the wealth and adoration/deference

Fuck knows why

SpaceJamtart · 07/06/2022 18:18

Its weird but no weirder than kids in other memes, which there are loads of or kids in adverts or magazines or films.
The toddlers in nappy adverts dont choose it either but they make money out of it, same goes for the royal kids, they spend a few days doing stuff in public every year and they get money for life.

If they decide they dont like it when they are older then they can opt out, like how toddlers in movies don't all grow up to be actors.

Its weird that any kids have to be in the public eye, but its pretty hard to pity a royal. And that kid is four, he probably does not know or care that he is in pictures on the internet at the moment

Redglitter · 07/06/2022 18:19

William & Kate control how often the children are seen in public. This weekend was exceptional and not the norm. The Cambridge children were born into the Royal life & like it or not will be in the limelight the rest of their lives

Compared to SM influences W&K are much better at controlling the media

I feel far sorrier for kids of z lebs like Stacey Solomon who exploits her children constantly, by choice, for Instagram content

donquixotedelamancha · 07/06/2022 18:19

No different from the kids of other celebs, exploited for attention. It's not a lifestyle I'd choose but the vast wealth is a nice compensation.

As a PP said- many, many kids have vastly harder lives.

Palebluelily · 07/06/2022 18:21

This was a special occasion, specifically about their own family so they were expected to appear.
Of course they got media attention, they're royalty. They will have to get used to cameras on them as they grow up, but their public appearances are well controlled.

ThettaReddast · 07/06/2022 18:21

They’re not ‘exploited’ and they will be fine. The jubilee was an exception, we really don’t see a great deal of them generally and what we do see is well managed.

spotcheck · 07/06/2022 18:25

They are a family supporting their grandmother. No exploitation

Sleepingb · 07/06/2022 18:29

I don't think they were exploited.

Is it life I'd like? No. Would the money make it worthwhile? Maybe

It's how it's always been for the RF.

Gingerkittykat · 07/06/2022 18:30

I 100% agree that the Cambridge children are cynically wheeled out for feel good purposes and to boost the popularity of the monarchy.

It wasn't fair to make Louis sit through hours of events at his age. There were also videos of Mia Tindall biting and elbowing her dad. It's obviously horrible behaviour from a child but not fair that is also in the public eye.

MangyInseam · 07/06/2022 18:33

I think their exposure is more controlled than a heck of a lot of other kids. You don't see them making idiots of themselves on tiktoc.

As far as having to sit, I think it's good for kids to have to sit occasionally for boring things. Louis looked like he was having an interesting experience which is generally very good for children.

picklemewalnuts · 07/06/2022 18:34

I'd say these children are pretty well protected, as kids in public go.

Their father certainly did not choose the life, though Kate did.

Every child gets wheeled out to a formal family event at some point, made to wear an uncomfortable outfit and sit through a boring event. It's part and parcel of growing up.

AngelinaFangelina · 07/06/2022 18:44

They are rarely ever seen in public, they came out for a carriage ride and a party. They are hardly being trotted out for money making purposes. I've far more concern about the "family vloggers" on YouTube and Instagram who are absolutely exploited daily, made to act for the camera, advertise products, have every embarrassing moment filmed, medical appointments and birthday parties and holidays when they are in swimsuits and so on. There is one family that I find shocking and am stunned they are still on YouTube (I better not name but the Dad has prior dubious behaviour around teenage girls). So no, I've got no worries about a family whose kids have been out at public events a handful of times. I don't think I've ever even seen Louis before this weekend and I doubt I will again until the next big event.

friendlycat · 07/06/2022 18:46

They will be just fine. Their parents, quite rightly, limit any exposure of their children. This was a very special occasion and a moment in history.

They have been born into the Royal Family, like other children of other royal families around the World. It's just a fact of their circumstance that they have to be gradually introduced into the wider royal world in which they live. But they have the majority of their young lives protected away from camera lens and prying eyes.

It's only really the tabloid press that create article after article of rubbish and then there is of course social media. But quite simple to avoid looking at. I would say the "grown up" papers have been quite respectful in terms of their coverage and very complimentary.

I really don't think they are being exploited in any way.